Scripture Study: Joshua 7:10-18

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Bible Study, Consequence, Grace, Jesus, Joshua, Mercy, Salvation, Scripture Study, Sin

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¹⁰ The Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? ¹¹ Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. ¹² Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.

Verses 10-12: The sin of one man has led to unforeseen consequences among an entire nation. God’s chosen people are going to suffer defeat after defeat at the hands of their enemy, for God will not be with them unless they correct that sin and get back into obedience. While I truly believe that salvation comes by grace through faith, not through anything we say or do, this is a good example of how hidden sins can have a ripple effect that affects those around us. There is a reason why Jesus and others often led with the word “Repent” in their message. We all are sinners (See Romans 3:23), and in the eyes of God there are no varying degrees of sins. We like to categorize them as big sins and little sins and, so long as we don’t do any of those big sins it is all okay. Or, perhaps, so long as no one else is hurt by those big sins they are okay. But God doesn’t draw those man-made lines. All sins are detestable to God and all sins stand in that chasm that separate us from being in harmony with God’s will for our lives. And when we are steeped in choices and lifestyles that run contrary to God’s will, we have a higher chance of having those decisions affect those who come into contact with us. The best solution is to find a few Christian men and/or women who you can confess those sins to and who will, in love, support you and help to keep you on track to walk on a path that will free you from bondage to those sins.

¹³ Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.”

Verse 13: Tying in with the idea of repentance comes this command from God. He commanded the people to prepare themselves, and that they need to remove the devoted things from among them. Repentance is not just confessing sin and asking for forgiveness, but it is turning away from those things as well. To go and sin no more, as Jesus commanded the woman who was to be stoned for adultery (See John 7:53-8:11).

¹⁴ In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the Lord takes by lot shall come near by clans. And the clan that the Lord takes shall come near by households. And the household that the Lord takes shall come near man by man. ¹⁵ And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.’”

¹⁶ So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken. ¹⁷ And he brought near the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. And he brought near the clan of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. ¹⁸ And he brought near his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

Verses 14-18: The punishment allotted for Achan might seem to us to be extreme, but we should remember that his actions were sinful and in direct conflict with God’s clear command. Achan stole what did not belong to him because he coveted the wealth. God is the supreme judge for us all, and the sentence passed down upon Achan is not out of line with what is deserved for the sin. We all deserve such punishments as sinners, for we daily commit sins in our hearts, our minds, and with our actions. This is a punishment that is very real and could be hanging over our heads each and every day. Rather than abounding in sin because of the mercy and grace of God, we should fall to our knees and give thanks to Him who sent Jesus to pay for all of our sins. A just God would give us what we deserve, saying to us “They will be done” and granting us the penalty we incur through our sinful lives. How much love God must possess for us all to send his Son to save us all and grant a path to eternal life! He knows we cannot earn that reward on our own power, yet He still welcomes us with open arms and patiently waits so that as many of His children will come to know Him and receive that salvation as is possible.

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Scripture Study: Joshua 7:1-9

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Achan, Ai, Bible Study, Christian, Gospel, Jesus, Joshua, prayer, Scripture Study

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But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.

Verse 1: In the previous chapter we saw the command that everything in Jericho was to be given as a sacrifice to the Lord, whether to slaughter or as donations to the Lord’s treasury (See Joshua 6:17-19). And every man save one followed this command. There are times in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, where we see examples where one person’s disobedience can affect others. This is one of those examples, as we see God holds his anger toward all of Israel and not just Achan, and we also know that we all inherit sin from Adam and his choice back in the Garden of Eden. Yet on the other hand, there are examples in there of God’s love and mercy being poured out upon many through the actions and decisions of one. No greater example can be found than that of Jesus and his sacrifice upon the cross. We may not be able to control what people do in their lives, but we can work to be the best possible influences by living out the Gospel, sharing the Gospel with others, and praying for families, friends, and future generations of our children and grandchildren.

² Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” And the men went up and spied out Ai. ³ And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few.”

Verses 2-3: One of the major themes that I catch time and again throughout the book of Joshua is that of the unexpected happening. Rahab is an unexpected helper for the Israelites and becomes an unexpected contributor in the genealogy of Jesus. The Israelites cross the Jordan River in an unexpected manner that is similar, yet different, from the parting of the Red Sea. The Israelites conquer Jericho in an unexpected manner by marching for seven days and shouting and blowing trumpets. It is something we’ll continue to see moving forward. And here, once again, something unexpected is about to happen. Joshua’s spies note that Ai has only a few men who would be able to retaliate when they attack, so they advise Joshua to send only a small portion of their army to handle this threat. This is a strategy that makes perfect sense: why tire your entire force when a small band could do the job effectively? Yet, as we’re about to see, things will not go as expected for the Israelites.

⁴ So about three thousand men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai, ⁵ and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

Verses 4-5: We can safely assume that the men of Ai numbered less than 3,000. After all, the spies would not recommend sending a force of equal, or lesser, strength to take Ai. Most likely the number would be around 1,500-2,000 to give a fair advantage in numbers to the Israelites. Yet they flee from the men of Ai after only 36 men died. That is only 1.2% of their force that traveled to take Ai. So what went wrong here? It had to have been something strong enough to make the men turn and flee even though they likely still outnumbered the men of Ai. The most likely guess would be that God turned their hearts toward flight and I’d like to think this was to spare them from losing more men in that failed attack. You would expect far more men to die before one side or the other would flee, barring something like divine intervention. And if this speculation holds true and God worked to make them flee so soon, it would be yet another example of God showing mercy even when he could hold his anger against them. This encounter is serving as a wake-up call to the Israelites to remind them that obedience is expected and, so long as they obey, God will deliver on His promise to give them the land. Without that obedience on their part, they can expect a long, arduous, bloody campaign through the land.

⁶ Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. ⁷ And Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! ⁸ O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! ⁹ For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?”

Verses 6-9: We can learn a few things from Joshua’s response to this unfortunate turn of events. First, he demonstrated active sorrow by tearing his clothing and having him and the elders put dust on their heads. This was about the equivalent of wearing sackcloth and putting ashes on the head, another common action seen in the Old Testament. Next, he seeks to understand God’s reasoning for bringing them this far just to destroy them. Instead of criticizing God for it, he mentions that they would have been content to remain on the other side of the Jordan River instead of facing this fate. Contentment can be a difficult thing to express, but it is often a right attitude to hold. Instead of being mad at God for withholding something we desire, we should remember the blessings in our lives that we already possess and try to be content with where we are and what we have. That thinking runs counter to some of the popular ideas of the Prosperity Gospel, but it is the right heart to have. Finally, Joshua turns the problem toward how God holds a stake in the results. Prayers to obtain that bigger, fancier house are typically man-centered and offer nothing in terms of glory to God. But in this case, Joshua points out that the defeat of the Israelites will lead to a lack of respect toward God’s power from the other nations. Bear in mind that Jericho’s hearts had melted prior to the Israelites’ arrival because they had heard of the things God had done for them. The opposite is about to happen here if God continues to forsake the Israelites. God made promises, and He will deliver on them. Prayers that align with His promises, or that will bring glory to His name, are a lot more likely to be answered than prayers that are wrapped solely around things of the world.

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Book Review: Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace

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Ben-Hur, Book Review, Carol Wallace, Christ, Jesus, Lew Wallace

Title: Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace, edited by Carol Wallace

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Released on: July 19, 2016

Pages: 432 Pages (Paperback)

Blurb: As one of the bestselling stories of all time, Lew Wallace’s Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ has captivated and enthralled millions around the world―both in print and on the big screen. Now Lew’s great-great-granddaughter has taken the old-fashioned prose of this classic novel and breathed new life into it for today’s audience.

Coming to theaters in August 2016 as Ben-Hur, a major motion picture from MGM and Paramount studios, the story follows Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman whose childhood friend Messala betrays him. Accused of trying to murder the new Roman governor in Jerusalem, Judah is sentenced to the galley ships and vows to seek revenge against the Romans and Messala. But a chance encounter with a carpenter from Nazareth sets Judah on a different path.

Rediscover the intrigue, romance, and tragedy in this thrilling adventure.

Also included: the inspiring story-behind-the-story of Lew Wallace―Indiana lawyer, author, and Civil War general.

**Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My Take: I had never read the book, nor seen any of the movies of Ben-Hur prior to my encounter with this copy of the book so there is no frame of reference toward anything already existing. This review is given with a  fresh mind and a new set of eyes to the story and the characters. I could instantly understand how this book was beloved and popular for so long. It has plenty of action sequences and some moments of high tension running through, even in the early chapters of the book. As Carol mentions in the introduction to the book, the iconic scene of the chariot race is actually only a small scene in the book, one that takes place about 2/3 of the way through the book. Yet that scene was quite delightful and I could instantly understand how it was so pivotal for both a book and a film of this story.

The brief moment in the early part of the book, where Judah is being taken away to the galley, was an interesting sequence that led to his first noted encounter with Christ. It would be many years before Christ would return into the story, yet the story being told here is of Judah Ben-Hur. It isn’t really until the final part where his story meets the story of Christ, but that final part was impressive and kept me reading page after page until I reached that conclusion. Truly, it was impossible to set down near the end, and as a whole this was a book that probably could be finished in one sitting on a rainy day. It was that good.

Having never read the original language in the book (it was written in 1880), I cannot comment on how this version differs from the original. Carol did mention that she updated the language throughout the book, and it was definitely a very readable version. Anyone today should have little problem picking up this book and reading it, and it never felt outdated or antiquated.

Overall this was a fun and enjoyable read. I’ve already begun recommending it to some people, and would encourage everyone to pick up a copy and read the book. Especially if you end up seeing the new movie. The story of Judah Ben-Hur is fascinating, full of action sequences and interesting twists to the plot along the way. You won’t regret reading this one.

 

Top Ten Books of the Bible

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Books of the Bible, Gospel, Jesus, scripture, the Bible, Top Ten List

For this month’s top ten list, I thought it would be fun to make a list of top ten books in the Bible. These are not, by any means, the ten most impactful nor the most essential books, but rather those that I enjoy reading and, in almost every case, rereading. Of course the four Gospel books are arguably the most important books, along with Genesis and Revelation. Romans is among the most powerful in delivering a message. This list is nothing more than one Christian’s personal preference, so take it as such and know that I would welcome reading your own list! But before we jump into my list, here is a very interesting graphic by BibleGateway with the most popular books:

10. Ezra – This is probably not a book that would make many of your top ten lists, which is part of the reason why I am glad it is so high on mine. I have always enjoyed the story of the man who led his people out of Babylon, displayed dire concern for the welfare of his nation, sparked a spiritual revival, and ultimately saw the rebuilding of the walls in Jerusalem. In particular Chapter 9:5-15 is of note, as that is the part containing a great intercessory prayer on behalf of his nation.

9. 1 Kings – This is probably another unexpected entry, and it is all because of the story of one man: Elijah. It was a tough call between Elijah and Elisha, as both of them have excellent stories embedded in the two books of Kings. But ultimately, Elijah’s showdown with the followers of Baal at Mount Carmel just cannot be topped. Also working in the favor of the books of Kings would be the picture of how a nation’s fervor for God can ebb and flow, usually following the actions and choices of the leader. How great it is when  you come to those ones who truly sought after God, breaking down the idolatrous barriers erected by his predecessors. Some might find the book a tough read, being historical and all, but there is a lot of good stuff in here.

8. Ezekiel – It is hard to rate a book so high when I have read it only once, but it has left a lasting impression. I remember reading the book and loving the imagery contained in there, and it had a bigger impact on that first read than either Isaiah or Jeremiah. Its place has dropped over the years, mainly because I have not revisited it, but that is a problem I plan to correct this year as I am reading through each of the prophetic books. It will be interesting to see how this shifts after I get a second read completed.

7. Judges – This book reads like a series of short stories, following the lives of men and women who were called to guide Israel in the right direction prior to their demand for a king. Like the Kings of Israel, some Judges did a better job than others. And the one story in here that steals the show, every time, is Samson. Not only is it really awesome to picture one man fighting with the jawbone of a donkey, but it also serves as a great reminder that even the strongest of men have weaknesses that can humble them. And no man, however strong, is truly strong apart from the power of God.

6. 2 Timothy – One of the shorter books on the list, and the first of Paul’s epistles to grace the list. Like its predecessor, the book of 2 Timothy passes along messages regarding the importance of teaching others and being ready to preach the Gospel. This one scores high on the list primarily because it usually gets read right after I go through the first one, which is a few spots higher on this list. The message resonates with me every time, which is why the two Timothy letters are probably the most-read books in the Bible for me.

5. Titus – This placement can be summed up with two verses: “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” Titus 2:7-8. I love those verses, and those serve as a backbone to what I strive to do as a Christian. This is the shortest of the books on my list, and, like Timothy, has a message that really packs a powerful punch and resonates with my soul. It is now common practice for me to read this right after the Timothies.

4. John – A Gospel book arrives at last, and if you were expecting to find all four of them on this list you will be disappointed. All four of them are excellent, each one having its own unique style and merit. But while Matthew, Mark, and Luke all are centered around the actions and teachings of Jesus, John takes things to a different level and revolves around the spiritual impact of Jesus and his ministry. That is not to say that it is better than the other three, but rather the depth of the material is what makes me return to John time and time again.

3. Joshua – This is the book I often turn to when I am looking to engage in a study of manhood, leadership, and prayer. The man who had to follow in the footsteps of Moses, Joshua leads God’s people out of the wilderness and into the land promised to Abraham. But everything is far from peaceful and Joshua engages in a series of battles where he relies, time and again, on God’s power and God’s commands rather than his own (or what would make sense to us). Joshua’s prayer to stop the sun and the moon is one of the most powerful moments in the entire Bible and to know that I can tap into a fraction of that potential with the proper prayer life is enough to motivate me to draw closer to God through prayer.

2. 1 Timothy – My favorite letter of Paul and my top book in the New Testament. It is no surprise, as previous entries alluded to its presence. The practical advice, geared toward those who are called to teach as well as verse 4:12 make this one a gem among gems in the Bible. As a newer Christian, as well as moderately on the young side in age, I still hold onto 1 Timothy 4:12 as a verse to write upon my heart. I plan to instill it into the hearts of all my children some day, as well. If you haven’t read 1 Timothy in a while, do yourself a favor and dive right in. There is bound to be something there for you.

1. Job – This has been my favorite book ever since my first reading of the Bible. I have read and studied it a few times and still haven’t managed to wrap my head around the magnitude of everything in here. Many people point to the early chapters of God and Satan discussing Job, or look at this as a great book for human suffering, but it is so much more than that. There is an unending reassurance in here that God is in control. Who am I to question why this happened instead of that? Who am I to tell God what I deserve (as if that conversation could EVER go well, as we are all sinners and all deserving of the eternal torment of hell if judged by the merits of our own actions) or do not deserve? The questioning, the doubting, the agonizing all builds up to the crescendo where God steps in and takes over the discussion. And it is wonderful.

What about you? What would your top books of the Bible be? If you decide to do a post on your own blog, be sure to tag me so I can read your list as well!

Growing in Faith

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Christianity, faith, Jefferson Bethke, Jesus, Point of Grace, religion, Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus

It feels a bit odd writing about my stance on faith. For nearly all of my life, my stance would have been either of total disbelief or else of cautious skepticism. I spent years avoiding the subject, approaching it only when it was for a class assignment. I loathed the two weeks spent in Philosophy on the subject of religion. I know my participation level would be far different if I took that class today.

I have regularly attended church for less than a year, and in that amount of time I have seen a transformation in both thoughts and actions because of this newfound faith. I have found some points in Scripture that have aligned with what I previously believed. I have found many others that have challenged or even contradicted what I once perceived as either truth or righteous.

For me the turning point in my belief came a few months after I had regularly attended Point of Grace. I was enrolled in an eight-week class they offered called Pursuit, which is learning to see God how He is so we can see ourselves the way He sees us, and also to see others how He sees them. After spending the first four weeks learning about different aspects of God, including his attributes and about the Holy Spirit, we moved into learning about the way He sees us. And the portion that really spoke to me was learning to choose to live through the Spirit instead of through the flesh.

What it comes down to is making the choice to trust in yourself or to trust in God to lead your life. When you call the shots, you are usually stuck either in an “I can do it!” or a “What’s the use?” mentality. They cycle between each other, with the outside sources around you reaffirming both of these mindsets. But when you trust in God, you learn that you have great worth apart from your performance because Christ gave his life for you. Through Christ you are deeply loved, fully pleasing, totally forgiven, accepted and complete. You don’t need to be perfect in all that you do, because you are already perfect through Christ. Romans 12:1-2 really puts this well when it says “Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

I believe that some people have a misconception about Christianity because they have had the wrong experiences or they look in the wrong places. Some people think that it is about performing rituals in order to be saved, or sacrificing everything good in life in order to be “good enough” to be saved. There is a huge difference between religion and Christ, as is pointed out by Jefferson Bethke in his poem, “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus“. His words echo my personal belief. In a discussion about that poem Bethke says, “Religion is man-centered, Jesus is God-centered. This poem highlights my journey to discover the truth. Religion either ends in pride or despair. Pride because you make a list and can do it and act better than everyone, or despair because you can’t do your own list of rules and feel ‘not good enough’ for God. With Jesus though you have humble confidant joy because He represents you, you don’t represent yourself and His sacrifice is perfect putting us in perfect standing with God!”

The idea of faith itself is sometimes a concept that people struggle to grasp. I know I struggled with it a lot, even when I started being more active at church. It requires the ability to believe something is true when there is no direct way of determining the truth or untruth of it. Hebrews 1:1 says that “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” This was the biggest hurdle for me to personally overcome because I always felt like I had a rational, logical way of thinking about things. 1 Corinthians 2:5 states, “so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”

Within a year I have established a foundation for my faith, and the beliefs that stem from that faith. I want to study the Scripture more, in order to strengthen my faith and find the various ways in which God is speaking to us through His Word. I want to continue to grow in my own faith and hope, that on that journey, I influence others to join me along the way. I want to help others become followers of Christ, making disciples as Christ commanded. I want to be a spiritual leader in my home, my church, and my community.